England Lions vs Sri Lanka

Thought we might as well set up a match thread for this one. It's not being televised unfortunately so can't actually watch any of the action. Sri Lanka won the toss and bowled first, and the Lions are currently 114/3. Adams and Bopara both failed, before a useful partnership between Hildreth and Taylor steadied the ship. Hildreth fell, but Taylor has now reached his half-century to continue his excellent form. He's been joined at the crease by Eoin Morgan who has a great chance to impress the selectors...

Morgan will get the test place next week now that he has hit 50

Morgan slogged a 156* against tired bowling. James Taylor played a few superior innings.

still reckon morgan will get the call up, 156 is still 156, considering if they put Morgan at 6 and put Bell 5 the bowlers could be tired again at that point.

hodge wrote:still reckon morgan will get the call up, 156 is still 156, considering if they put Morgan at 6 and put Bell 5 the bowlers could be tired again at that point.

I'd have Taylor, Morgan's technically poor.

156 is a mega score, but if England where 50-4, they'd rather have Taylor over Morgan.

but the england selectors would hope that they wouldn't get in that situation if so and i would expect so Bell would be batting 6 anyways and Morgan 5

hodge wrote:but the england selectors would hope that they wouldn't get in that situation if so and i would expect so Bell would be batting 6 anyways and Morgan 5

I'm sure most sides hope they areall ways 300-4, rather than 50-4 but sometimes it doesn't pan out that way.

Prior plays in a similar style to Morgan anyway, so Taylor would be the better pick.

with Morgan and Prior being similar its why Bell would get stuck inbetween

We're not getting anywhere here!!!

I want Taylor, you want Morgan

Lets wait and see who gets the place!!!

I don't WANT Morgan i just reckon he will get the place due to past experience with the england set up

Like many of the cricket regulars on this forum I'm a massive supporter of Jimmy Taylor. Rather than compare his contribution to Morgan's, I'm just pleased that wee Jimmy dug in and made a valuable score. It won't get him immediate test recognition but it won't have gone unnoticed either.

Interesting as well that Samit Patel scored an undefeated 101. Don't know if he's been dieting during the winter but 45 of that total were actually run between the wickets .... :run1:

I think they will pick Morgan, but I would prefer them to pick Taylor.

But has Pieterson done enough to walk straight back into the team? Maybe they should play both Taylor and Morgan....

Guildford.....

Corporal - or perhaps England could call up Jason Roy? Now that would stir things up ....

Jimmy's score was in its own way just as valuable as Moggy's. However, sonic_boom, I take exception with the view that Morgan merely slogged a few against tired bowling. He came in at 105/3, you can't clai the bowlers (who had just had lunch) were already tired (or else SL are facing some serious problems in the test series). Nope, you could maybe level that accusation at Patel, but the first 50 runs (at least) of Moggy's innings were vital.

You could also argue that Taylor's innings, while valuable, left the job only half down as he exited at 162/4, hardly a commanding position. Basically, I don't think on the basis of this match you can argue that Taylor deserves his place more (though on the basis of the early season you certainly could). I like Taylor, he's a very talented player who's in tremendous form, but Morgan will play ahead of him, and I believe deserves to. As for scoring runs under pressure, Morgan's first test innings he came in at about 100-odd for 4 and made a hundred.

I think Morgan will be given the SL tests to prove himself. If he doesn't then I can see Taylor given a shot. Don't see the point in giving Bopara another go TBH, and at the moment I thin Taylor is ahead of Hildreth...

Good to see Patel getting some runs too, if he has improved his fitness (any notts fans here) no reason he shouldn't stake a claim. Can see him in the ODI side at least...

I think morgan was always going to play it seems flower had him as next in line, he doesnt seem to change his mind to often - it will be interesting to see how he goes though. Is he solid enough at this level - personally I think he'll get a good run and improve over time.

Until this season I would have said Ravi is still the same player he was 3 - 4 years ago needs to show he's willing to work and improve technically however this season playing in the county championship and performing well - good on him and I hope in time he'll be rewarded.

Taylor - seems to be a classy batsman - I think flower will have to find a place for him in our batting line at some point

KP needs a big summer because in my opinion he's the batsman who's place is most under threat

Dernbach has put down a marker with five wicket haul...

Morgan will almost certainly play, and he will have earned it after his mammoth score in this match. I personally would prefer Taylor but he will undoubtedly get his chance soon, possibly later in the summer. As for Samit Patel, I'm glad he is back in the reckoning as he would be perfect for our ODI side, more than capable to replace Yardy's bowling and a top quality batsman to boot. I can see Jade Dernbach getting a first cap this summer, probably in an ODI unless there are some injuries to a couple of Test bowlers.

Having said that, Cricinfo seem to think that Bopara is nailed on for the Test side. I don't agree with it if it's true but he has been batting pretty well this year.

Hard to argue against Morgan with that score.

srilanka are smashing the unripe english bowlers to the all part of ground.....the test match build up gets interesting day per day..

Sri Lank second innings - Dernbach again takes the most wickets.

What score did Dilshan get in the end, i know he was on a hundred but did he get a big one or just get out?